Business News Americas reported today that CGC, the company performing seismic exploration on Sarayacu territory known as “Block 23”, is pulling out of the area due to “safety concerns”. The news comes just days after a commission from the Kichwa Sarayacu community in the Ecuadorian Amazon met twice with representatives of the national government. Government officials visited Sarayacu on February 3, and the Kichwa people had an opportunity to reiterate their opposition to all oil operations in their territories. A report on Sarayacu.com claims that military troops are still a presence in Jatun, Molino, and Shaimi, but transport on the Bobonaza River is no longer obstructed and that hunting equipment that was confiscated from the Kichwa by the military will be returned. Environmental lookouts have not detected any oil exploration activities in Sarayacu territory for the moment, but as of February 4, seismic works were continuing in other parts of Block 23. On a stranger note, the same day of the government visit, the people of Sarayacu say they received an email message from ChevronTexaco with the only content “hijueputas” (“sons-of-prostitutes”). The Sarayacu people say they have come to expect this behavior from the company.
